Strawberry
Strawberry
Soil
Good drainage is essential but they need a good supply of moisture in their growing season. If they get dry they become stressed.
A light to medium soil is best which is also fertile.
Nutrients need to be supplied regularly to ensure good growth. Excess nitrogen will kake the plants grow leafy and fruit poor quality.
Planting
Ridges. This is the may most commercial growers plant crops. Growers use machines on a large scale to create nice regular long mounds(ridges) which will then be covered with thin black plastic or similar material.
Plants are then planted through the plastic on top of the ridge. The plastic suppresses weed growth, conserves moisture, helps the soil warm up and keeps the fruit clean. To protect the soil beside the ridges place dry pea straw or similar in the trench..
Beds: Flat beds are suitable at home for small numbers of plants. Plant so you do not have to walk on the soil near the plants which will do root damage.
Use straw to mulch the ground around the plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and keep the fruit clean.
Nutrients:
When preparing the bed incorporate some compost and long term/slow release fertiliser.
In spring and winter add compost to the top of the soil and cover with straw. Use a strawberry fertiliser preparation if desired.
Watering
Ensure they are well watered during the growing season
Pests and diseases
Keep the plants clean and weed free.
Aphids and caterpillars are main pests.
Fungus diseases will increase if the ground is too moist. Remove any fruit or leaves that become infected with Botrytis
Birds love strawberries. Cover with a bird netting
Below is a link to an old article on The History of the Strawberry.
Soil
Good drainage is essential but they need a good supply of moisture in their growing season. If they get dry they become stressed.
A light to medium soil is best which is also fertile.
Nutrients need to be supplied regularly to ensure good growth. Excess nitrogen will kake the plants grow leafy and fruit poor quality.
Planting
Ridges. This is the may most commercial growers plant crops. Growers use machines on a large scale to create nice regular long mounds(ridges) which will then be covered with thin black plastic or similar material.
Plants are then planted through the plastic on top of the ridge. The plastic suppresses weed growth, conserves moisture, helps the soil warm up and keeps the fruit clean. To protect the soil beside the ridges place dry pea straw or similar in the trench..
Beds: Flat beds are suitable at home for small numbers of plants. Plant so you do not have to walk on the soil near the plants which will do root damage.
Use straw to mulch the ground around the plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and keep the fruit clean.
Nutrients:
When preparing the bed incorporate some compost and long term/slow release fertiliser.
In spring and winter add compost to the top of the soil and cover with straw. Use a strawberry fertiliser preparation if desired.
Watering
Ensure they are well watered during the growing season
Pests and diseases
Keep the plants clean and weed free.
Aphids and caterpillars are main pests.
Fungus diseases will increase if the ground is too moist. Remove any fruit or leaves that become infected with Botrytis
Birds love strawberries. Cover with a bird netting
Below is a link to an old article on The History of the Strawberry.
history_of_strawberry.pdf | |
File Size: | 6461 kb |
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